Elsa's Birthday!

Many people will be participating in Super Bowl parties today. We don't have tv right now (except for Netflix) so we won't be watching the game, but we are having a birthday cake today! (As a side note, Paul and I are both hoping the Seahawks win because we both strongly dislike the Patriots.) For three weeks Nadia has been telling us that Elsa (the one shown in the picture at left) would be turning one year old on February 1, which happens to be my brother's birthday, but Uncle Maurice lives in Brazil so he can't join us for cake. The poor guy was stung more than 20 times on Friday by killer bees when taking his students outside (in Brazil). One of Yvonne's best friends in Maryland has often posted pictures of birthday cakes made to celebrate her youngest daughter's stuffed animals' birthdays. Bailey is also six years old. Seeing all those pictures gave me the idea that I could make a cake for "Elsa's" birthday. Nadia was SO excited when I bought the ingredients a few days ago, and she was elated when I said we could light a birthday candle. Why not? As Julie says (Bailey's mom), let her enjoy her childhood! The time will come all too quickly when she will see such a thing as being childish.

So instead of celebrating a football game today, we are celebrating the birthday of a doll. This doll goes with her just about everywhere. She even took her out in the snow once (which I quickly put a stop to once I discovered what was happening). Nadia told me recently that her four most prized possessions were #1 her Poland pillow that Paul got her in 2010, this Elsa doll (aside from the face the rest is soft so she likes sleeping with this one), her singing Elsa doll (bigger than this one but not soft), and her Elsa Barbie doll. Yes, three of her four most prized possessions are all Elsa dolls. I gave her the Barbie one for her birthday last summer (she ice skates), and Paul's parents gave her the other two (one at Christmas and one the weekend Paul and I went away). The Poland pillow has been her most prized possession for 4 1/2 years. We shall see how long the Elsa dolls remain her favorites!

The picture above is of three notes Nadia wrote recently. She gave me the love note on pink paper yesterday. Priceless. The one with the dates is the countdown she made on January 13 and every day (except yesterday) she would check off one number. It says at the top "Dolles drthba." She wrote her "b" and "d" backwards in the second word. Translation: Dollie's birthday. Nadia, Ian, and Oliver each had a turn blowing out the candle on Elsa's cake. Ian and Nadia both gave Elsa several gifts (some of their stuffed animals and toys). She "wrapped" the gifts in a Minnie Mouse blanket. After I put Oliver down for his nap, I turned on the monitor, and he was singing the Happy birthday song to Elsa in his bed! This doll is getting quite the royal treatment around here! :)

Nadia had her second basketball game yesterday. She took a few shots. One hit the net, and one actually hit the rim. She's getting closer! The other girl on her team (Claire) scored MANY baskets yesterday, but she is not a ball hog. Sometimes when Claire had an easy shot, she threw the basket to Nadia instead (even though she knew Nadia would not score). What a nice team! The boy on the other team that Nadia was paired up with when it came to playing defense was actually at her level (just as weak). Paul has been working with her in the basement on dribbling. Two games down and six to go before we switch gears back to soccer.

Nadia's shot!